3 Ways to Boost Your Body Confidence (and See Working Out in a Whole New Light)

Earlier this month, on a Sunday in New York City's Union Square, a hundred women, all shirtless and in sports bras, sweated through a SoulCycle class under the early autumn sun. If you're thinking, "No, thanks," you might be surprised to learn the reason they shed their shirts in public.

The occasion was Dare to Bare, a series of local events hosted by the body-positive Movemeant Foundation. The foundation's founder, Jenny Gaither, is a top NYC spinning instructor, and she came up with the idea of having a pack of women working out in public in sports bras as a way to promote acceptance of our bodies.

Gaither, who trained as a dancer, explained that, "The pressure of unrealistic body standards led to issues with my self-image, and eventually a struggle with anorexia and bulimia." She gave up dancing professionally and got certified as a SoulCycle instructor—a move which ultimately changed her life. One day, as she was leading a Rihanna-themed ride on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and sweating beneath her fun gold-lamé jacket, she found she couldn't bring herself to shed that layer, to bare herself in a sports bra before her class. But instead of feeling defeated, she got inspired: She'd make it her mission to change the conversation around body image and combat the negativity women face every day.

By raising money through events like Dare to Bare, the foundation supports various body-positive initiatives. So far, Gaither has given out grants to fund hip-hop classes in middle schools and empowering outdoor experiences in impoverished urban communities, to name a few examples. "The goal," Gaither says of her new foundation, "Is to shift the dialogue around fitness from a focus on what you might lose (weight) to what you'll gain—confidence, strength, and a new sense of self that's larger than life."

"The problem with fitness' is that it's become synonymous with punishment'—and often, it's inaccessible to many women," Gaither says. "But getting out there and moving teaches self-reliance; it allows you to uncover what your body is truly capable of. That—not the dropping of pounds—is the kind of transformation we should be celebrating."

For everyone who doesn't live nearby one of these events—there will be more, by the way!—Gaither is sharing three steps to body confidence. If you're ready to shed a layer, physically or emotionally, these are inspiring words you can bring with you anywhere you go:

1. Find a support system: "Surround yourself with only with people who value, appreciate, and respect everything about you. Seek out a mentor who makes you feel strong and unstoppable, and will encourage you in your fitness goals (it might be a friend, a personal trainer at your gym, or an instructor you love at a local fitness studio) and reach out to her whenever your negative self-talk gets louder."

2. Find an activity you love: "When I used to hear the word exercise,' I'd think of treadmills, burpees, and sprints—all things I hated. So if you don't like working out, don't work out! Instead, go dance. Climb. Swim. Take a walk or a bike ride. Because if you call it what you like, you'll like it, and it should feel like a reward."

3. Be proud—and keep taking risks: "Prove yourself to yourself by accomplishing something that is challenging for you. Your mentors are there to support you, so don't be afraid to take some leaps and push yourself as you near your goal. There's no greater thrill than realizing you're capable of anything if you invest your heart and soul into it."